Keeping stars is IndyCar's biggest challenge

Defections to NASCAR have picked up lately

PAUL NEWBERRYThe Associated Press

Published Saturday, May 24, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS -- When the subject turned to NASCAR, Graham Rahal sounded just short of disrespectful.

The youngest driver to win an IndyCar race apparently didn't receive the memo that every open-wheel racer is just biding his time until he -- or she (we're talking about you, Danica Patrick) -- gets a chance to cash in on America's most popular form of motor sports.

"This series has more potential than NASCAR," the 19-year-old Rahal said with a bit of disdain. "I think NASCAR has peaked. It's not going to get more popular than it already is. Besides, I think the racing over here is more exciting."

Could it be? Is IndyCar becoming a destination rather than a steppingstone?

No one disputes the outlook for American open-wheel racing is brighter than it has been in more than a decade. But, amid the giddy talk of unified IndyCar, the series still faces a huge challenge: keeping its stars, especially with that cash machine known as NASCAR ready to scoop up the best talent.

When the green flag waves Sunday for the Indianapolis 500, the 2006 winner of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" will be getting ready to crank up his Dodge in North Carolina. Sam Hornish Jr. left for NASCAR after last season, deciding the money was just too good to pass up.

He's not alone. Defending Indy 500 winner and series champion Dario Franchitti also jumped to Sprint Cup, though he won't be racing this weekend; he's still on the mend from a broken foot sustained in a crash at Talladega last month.

And that doesn't even include those who likely would have gravitated toward Indy in another era, native sons such as Ryan Newman (born in South Bend) and four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who was raised in the Hoosier state. Just imagine what the 500 would look like with all those guys in the traditional 33-car field.

"It's probably going to be three or four years before we see any change," predicted Eddie Cheever, who won the Indy 500 in 1998 and will be on ABC's broadcast crew for Sunday's race. "You're still going to see drivers going where they get paid the most money, and NASCAR pays the most money right now. NASCAR is the 800-pound gorilla."

Just this week, Helio Castroneves, a two-time Indy 500 winner whose contract with Penske Racing is up at the end of the year, was grilled about his reported interest in NASCAR. While denying he's ready to jump, he conceded he's at least looking at his options.

His loss would be a huge blow to IndyCar, especially since he brought in a new group of potential fans with his skills on the dance floor.

"That's the guy who won 'Dancing With The Stars,"' said a woman strolling by the Penske garage earlier in the week, trailed by a group of kids.

But the one driver IndyCar can't afford to lose under any circumstances is Patrick. Three years ago, she sent people running to their televisions with a stirring run as an Indy 500 rookie. She's back as one of the favorites this year, bolstered by her first career win.

Although Patrick is by far the series' most popular -- and, in all likelihood, its highest-paid driver -- she certainly will test the NASCAR waters when she's ready to negotiate her next contract.

"I am open to anything," she said, repeating that statement for emphasis. "NASCAR? Well, there's a lot of drivers over there. I can't imagine that it's too bad.

But Patrick, who was born in Wisconsin and raised in Illinois, the heart of IndyCar's fan base, insists open-wheel cars are her first love.

"Indy cars are what I grew up watching," she said. "I love where I'm at. I love driving these cars. There's nothing else -- except Formula One, of course -- that will ever compare to the feeling I get from driving one of these open-wheel cars, with all the technical aspects of it.

"But," she added ominously, "you've got to be open."

Speaking of Formula One, both Rahal and another of IndyCar's biggest names, 21-year-old Marco Andretti, have talked openly about their desire to one day tackle the globe-hopping series.

Andretti's grandfather, Mario, was one of only two Americans to win an F1 championship, and father Michael also gave it a shot. Marco's three biggest goals in racing are winning the Indy 500 (he was second two years ago), taking an IndyCar series title and claiming a Formula One crown.

There's even been talk of the youngster heading overseas as soon as next season, though Cheever -- who began his career in F1 -- doesn't believe it will happen.

"I don't see many opportunities for drivers here to end up in Formula One," Cheever said. "Marco obviously has aspirations for that. But he's got to be the best one on his team before they'll even consider it."

Scott Dixon, a 27-year-old New Zealander who'll be on the pole Sunday, grew up dreaming of F1 but said he might consider NASCAR when he's in his 30s. With its bigger, bulkier cars and slower speeds, Sprint Cup does appeal to someone who's closing in on the finish line as a driver.

He's already told Chip Ganassi he'd like to be considered for a ride on the car owner's Sprint Cup team. Ganassi is the one who hired Franchitti, who's struggled mightily and could be one-and-done if his performance doesn't improve.

But perhaps the struggles of Franchitti and Hornish could benefit IndyCar.

Hornish is 34th in the Sprint Cup standings, Franchitti is 40th and neither has finished a race in the top 10. That could make NASCAR teams more wary about hiring open-wheel drivers, knowing they face a steep learning curve.

"If I went over there, would I would struggle? Yeah," Andretti conceded. "It's a totally different kind of car. Those guys would struggle if they came over here, too."

Sounding a lot like Rahal, the youngest Andretti brushed off the idea of trying stock cars.

"To be honest, that has no appeal to me," he said. "I've grown up in open-wheel racing."